Reading device

ABSTRACT

Reading device for a coated tape having two reels on which the tape is mounted and drive means engageable with one or the other of the reels to drive the tape in advancing or return directions past a reading head with control means responsive to drive of the tape to shift the drive means from one reel to the other or to halt it in an intermediate position of disengagement from both reels.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Willy Becker [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1957 Pastor 3,002,681 10/1961 Norton et Behringersdorf near Nurnberg;

226/51X 235/61. 1 1 226/ 1 1X 226/50X 226/1 1 226/5OX 226/50X 226/50 3,092,295 6/1963 Giannuzzi........ 3,115,314 12/1963 Man1ey............ 3,184,130 5/1965 Brayer et a1. 3,236,428 2/1966 Yamane.......... 3,251,048 5/1966 Ki11en........... 3,366,300 1/1968 [waiet a1. 3,417,937 12/1968 Van Slageren Primary Examiner-Daryl W. Cook Assistant ExaminerRobert M. Kilgore Hans Hueser, Numberg, Germany [21 Appl. No. 634,055 [22] Filed Apr. 21, 1967 [45] Patented Mar. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee Diehl Nurnberg, Germany [3 2] Priority Apr. 26, 1966, Aug. 11, 1966 Germany [31 B49951 and B50823 Anomey Walter Becker [54] READING DEVICE 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

means engageae the tape in adead with control pe to shift the drive means om one reel to the other or to halt it in an intermediate position of disengagement from both reels.

ABSTRACT: Reading device for a coated tape having two reels on which the tape is mounted and drive ble with one or the other of the reels to driv vancing or return directions past a reading h means responsive to drive of the ta PATENTED MR 9 197i sum 1 UF 2 Mm; Mia/4' READING DEVICE The present invention relates to a reading device for introducing a control program recorded on a band-shaped or tape record carrier into a calculating machine or calculating device operating digitally and preferably provided with an electro motor driven printer.

It is known to introduce a control program into data processing installations and machines through the intervention of a tape record. To this end, for instance, the tape is advanced according to a certain rhythm. However, there is also known a device which permits the introduction of the information or control impulses stored on a tape into the machine at a desired speed up to a maximum limit. This means that the rewinding device which receives the tape and passes it by a reading head can be driven in a jerk-free manner without speed stabilization.

Starting from a device of the last mentioned type, it is an object of the present invention to providea particularly simple reading device.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a driving and rewinding device for the reading device set forth in the preceding paragraph. I

It is another object of this invention to provide a device as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, in which when starting the calculating machine, if desired with double gauge operation for advance and return, it is possible to control the rewinding device for advance and subsequently automatically for return and then to stop the drive for the rewinding device.

Still another object of this invention consists in providing the rewinding device with a start-stop mechanism which makes it possible to turn off the rewinding device at full tape speed.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reading device connected to a digitally operating electronic calculating machine and also discloses the drive mechanism for the reading device.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the reading device with inserted three track tape according to a basic arrangement of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device as seen along the line Ill-ill of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a reading device according to the invention with a two track tape.

According to the present invention, the rewinding device comprises two reels, one for the winding-off spool and one for the winding-upspool of the recording tape and furthermore comprises an electromotor-driven friction wheel. This rewinding device is adapted to be controlled by control means which when starting the machine are made effective and are controlled by the rewinding device. This control is effected in such a way that the friction wheel which when starting the machine drive or the program introducing device is couple to the winding-up reel, toward the end of the rewinding operation in one direction is controlled by the winding-off reel or the tape running off therefrom, and is adapted to be disengaged from the winding-up reel, and for obtaining a reverse movement of the tape is adapted in the reverse direction of rotation to be coupled to the reel which up to that time,acted as winding-off reel. In this way the rewinding of the tape is effected until toward the end of the return movement the friction wheel controlled by the now unwinding reel or the tape running off therefrom is disengaged from the reel which up to that time is driven and by means of a locking member associated with the control means is arrested in a disengaged central position. The control means may also be designed in the form of a joint parallelogram which by means of control and stopping abutments extends into the circulating path of control arms of the two reels and in its turn has means for shifting a transmission which carries the friction wheel and is tiltably journaled on the motor shaft. The control parallelogram may have connected thereto a spring in such a way that whenever a reversing operation is effected, the spring moves the control members from the labile center position into one or the other stabile end positions and causes the friction wheel to engage the respective reel.

According to a further feature of the-invention, for purposes of reducing the required width of the recording tape, the markings of the rhythm track and of the impulse track and accordingly also the reading heads thereof are offset with regard to each other in the direction of movement of the tape; The distances by which these elements are offset with regard to each other shouldat least be one-half of the pitch, preferably 2%times the pitch. A saving in tracks will be obtained by having the rhythm track simultaneously serve as O-information, while the impulse mark which is felt or sensed together with or shortly ahead of the rhythm mark will serve as L information. The last mentioned distances of offsetting can also be realized by selecting the distance between the reading head of the rhythm track and the reading head of the impulse track somewhat shorter than the distance of offsetting between the respective marks pertaining to each other.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the arrangement shown therein comprises a frame 1 having arranged therein arms 2, 3 with pivots 4, 5 on which reel bodies 6, 7 are rotatably journaled in a dampened condition by means of a friction brake each 8, 9 known per se. Each of the reel bodies 6, 7 is equipped, with a friction ring 10, 11 for a friction wheel 12 associated with said reel bodies 6, 7. The friction wheel 12 is fixedly connected to a pinion 13 and together with the latter is rotatably journaled on a pivot or stud 14 or an arm 15. Arm 15 is tiltably journaled on a shaft 16 of an electric motor 17. Keyed to shaft 16 is a pinion 1.8 which continuously meshes with the pinion 13 of the friction wheel 12. The electric motor 17 is mounted in a calculating machine or a printer to which the frame 1 is connected, for instance screwed, in any convenient manner.

The winding core 19 of the reel body 6 has wound therupon a recording tape 20. By any standard clamping means, the ends of the tape 20 are fastened'in the reel bodies 6, 7, shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the drawing, the tape 20 arrives on the reel body 6 from the outside (see H6. 1) whereas it arrives on the reel body 7 from a location intermediate the real bodies 6 and 7 by way of the friction wheel 12 journaled on the inside of structure in FIG. 1. This is clear from the direction of rotation of the friction wheel 12 which when coupled to the friction ring 10 drives the reel body 6, and which when coupled to the friction ring 11 drives the reel body 7, in both instances in counterclockwise direction. The unwinding of the recording tape 20 from the respective reel body 6, 7 is dampened by the friction brake 8, 9 so that a loop formation of tape20 will be avoided.

Each of the two reel bodies 6, 7 has line linked thereto a control arm 21, 22 respectively .with control ears 23, 24. A spring 25, 26 respectively connected to control arms 21, 22 continuously tends to tilt arm 21, 22, radially. The control arms 21, 22 have pins 27, 28 connected thereto which extend through slots 29,30 of the reel bodies 6, 7 into the range of the tape spool. At the bottom of the slots 29, 30, the winding core are provided with cutouts 31 as shown in connection with the winding core 19. When the tape 20 is wound up, the tape itself will automatically against the thrust of spring 25 move the respective pin 27 into the cutout 31 before the first complete winding of tape 20 has been placed upon the winding core 19.

A lever 33 is journaled on a pivot 32 of arm 2, whereas a further lever 35 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 34 of frame 1. The two levers 33 and 35 are coupled to each other by means of a pullrod 36. Lever 33 is provided with an abutment 37, and lever 35 has an abutment 38. These two abutments 37 and 38 are so arranged that they extend into the path of movement of the ears 23, 24 when the control arm 21, 22 is tilted outwardly. When the ear 23 engages the abutment 37 the lever 33 and through the intervention of bar 38, also lever 35 is tilted in clockwise direction. At the same time, the rotational movement of the reel body 6 is braked and then stopped. When, however, during the unwinding operation of tape 20 from the reel body 7,the ear 24 hits the abutment 38, said ear turns the levers 35, 33 in counterclockwise direction and brakes and stops the reel body 7 when the last winding of the recording tape 20 which holds the control arm 22 by means of pin 28 downwardly leaves the reel body 7.

Arm 39 of control lever 33 carries a roller 40 which engages a lever 41. Lever 41 is tiltably journaled on shaft 42. The free end of lever 41 is engaged by a strong spring 43 which presses lever 41 and, more specifically, a roof-shaped portion 44 thereof against the roller 40. Part 44 of lever 41 brings about that through the intervention of roller 40, lever 33 is pressed from its labile intermediate position into one of the two end control positions depending on the control direction. In its end position, the friction wheel 12 is coupled either to the friction ring of reel body 6 or to the friction ring 11 of the reel body 7. For shifting the friction wheel 12 or arm which carries the stud 14 for the friction wheel 12, an abutment roller 45 is connected to arm 15 and cooperates with an angled ofi ear 46, 47 of the pullrod 36.

Shaft 42 is journaled on one hand in frame 1 and has its other end journaled in a machine member not illustrated in the drawing. That end of shaft 42 which extends outwardly beyond the frame 1 is provided with a knurled operating knob 48. Within the range of angled off ears 49, 50 of the two arms 52 which are journaled on a stud 51 in a scissorlike manner, a control member 54 is connected to shaft 42. This control member 54 is adapted when turning shaft 42, to spread the ears 49, 50 or arms 52, 53 against the thrust of a spring 55 away from each other. This spring 55 continuously urges the ears 49, 50 to engage an approximately rectangular control member 54 and to remain in engagement therewith. The ends of arms 52, 53 are provided with studs 56, 57 each of which carries a guiding roller 58 for the recording tape as shown in connection with the stud 56. As pressure roller 59 for the tape 20, the bolt 60 rotatably supports a roller the length of which is less than the free axial dimension of the guiding roller 58. Bolt 60 is connected to frame 1. A corresponding roller is also associated with the guiding roller journaled on the bearing stud 57.

As will be seen from the drawing, spring 55 serves as pressure spring by the thrust of which-uniformly distributed over the two arms 52,53the guiding rollers 58 press the recording tape 20 against the rollers 59. Between the guiding rollers 58 and on the outside of the frame 1 there is provided a lamp housing 61 comprising a tubular lamp 62. This lamp through bores in the lamp housing 61 illuminates the recording tape from below. Furthermore, the three photo-diodes 64, 65, 66 are adjacent to each other arranged in a holder 63. Whereas the intermediate light sensitive cell or photodiode 65 serves for feeling or scanning an intermediate track 67 of the recording tape 20, the diode 64 scans an outer track 68, for instance during the advance, and the diode 66 scans an inner track 69 during the return of the tape 20 from one reel body 6 to the other reel body 7. v

For reversing the scanning diode 64, 66 during the advance or return movement, there is provide a switch 70 with two fixed outer contacts 71, 72 and a contact tongue 74 which is shiftable when depressing a control pin 73. The contact 71 is connected for instance with the diode 64 for scanning the advancing track 68, while the contact 72 is connected to the diode 66 for scanning the return track 69. The rhythm scanning diode 65 is always turned on and serves during the advance as well as during the return movement for optically scanning the rhythm or step impulses. Pin 73 is actuated by lever 33. When lever 33 pushes pin 73 into switch 70 during the return movement, pin 73 separates the rest contact 71 and shifts over the contact tongue 74 toward the contact 72.

An additional switch 75 forms the turning off switch for the tubular lamp circuit. Switch 75 provided with rest contacts 76, 77 is likewise actuated by lever 33 by means of a pin 78 and, more specifically, in such a way that switch 75 is open in the illustrated rest position of the driving device.

For maintaining the driving arrangement in a neutral position between the two switch end positions, arm 15 has a lateral angled off portion 79 which rests in a cutout 80 of a pawl 81 pivotally connected to frame 1. A spring 82 which by means of one end engages a lateral pin 82 of pawl 81 and by means of its other end engages a stationary pin 84 of frame 1 keeps said pawl 81 in engagement with the angled off portion 79.

The release of pawl 81 is effected by means of a push-rod 85 which by means of an oblong hole 85a is guided on pin 84 while the lower end of pushrod 85 engages pin 83 of pawl 81. The upper end of pushrod 85 is pivotally connected to a control arm 86. A spring 89 provided between joint shaft 87 and pin 88 in frame 1 maintains the control arm 86 in its illustrated starting position.

Control arm 86 which is pivotally connected to frame 1 has two rounded notches 90, 91 arranged adjacent to each other while acamlike elevation 92 is provided between said notches 90, 91. Above pushrod 86, a control lever 93 is pivotally connnected to frame 1. When the arrangement is in its off-position, a roller 94 of lever 93 rests in notch 91. By means of pin 95 of this control lever 93 a main switch 96 for the machine drive, for instance for the electric motor 17, can be controlled. By shifting lever 93 in the direction of the arrow [2, the contacts 97, 98 are closed by a switch shaft 99.

For purposes of inserting the recording tape 20, the control member 54 is turned by by means of the operating knob known and the shaft 42. In this way the control member 54 displaces the ears 49, 50 of the arms 52, 53. As a result thereof, the scissorlike lever arrangement 52, 53 opens, which means that the bearing studs 56, 57 are lowered so that a gap will be formed between the guiding roller 58 and the pressure roller 59. The recording tape 20 is axially inserted into the said gap and placed into the guiding roller 58. lnversely, the recording tape can be lifted out and be withdrawn. An exchange of the recording tape 20 is in a manner known per se required only when changing the control program, which means when specifically employing the digital calculator. For the ordinary daily operation, the required standard program on the recording tape20 is sufiicient. Inasmuch as the recording tape 20 will each time the machine is placed into operation, run off once only and due to its continuous employment is subject to a certain stress, the said recording tape is preferably made of shape retaining and tear resistant material, as for instance of 0.02 mm. blue steel.

For purposes of placing the machine into operation, the control lever 93 is tilted in the direction of the arrow b. Its pin will then free the control shaft 99, whereupon the contacts 97, 98 close the circuit for the machine which means for the electronic part as for the drive 17 of the nonillustrated printer. The friction wheel transmission 18, 13, 12 is by means of shaft 16 rotated in the direction of the arrow a. Inasmuch as the tiltable arm 15 which carries the friction wheeI transmission 18, 13, 12, in view of the influence of the flattened portion 44 which by means of spring 43 is held in engagement with roller 40 of lever 39 has its turned off portion 79 in engagement with the resting step 80 of pawl 81, the drive 16, 18, 13, 12 will first start under no load. When shifting control lever 93 over, the control arm 86 is tilted against the thrust of spring 89 by roller 94 while passing over cam 92. As a result thereof, the pushrod 85 will by means of pin 83 press pawl 81 against the thrust of spring 82 in downward direction so that the resting step 81) thereof releases the angled off portion 79. In view of the thrust of spring 43, the arms 15 is tilted in counterclockwise direction by means of lever 41, its inclined surface 44, roller 40 of lever 39 and pullrod 36 or ear 46 thereof which rests against the abutment roller 45. Friction wheel 12 engages the friction ring 11 of the reel body 7 and turns the latter in counterclockwise direction. As a result thereof, the recording tape 20 which moves into the reel body 7 from the inside is wound from the reel body 6 onto the reel body 7.

After half a revolution of the reel body 7, the recoding tape 20 moves onto pin 28 of the control arm 22 and tilts the latter against the thrust of spring 26 radially inwardly to such an extent that the abutment 24 moves out of the range of roller 38.. The unwinding friction brake 8 associated with the reel body 6 will create the necessary pull to overcome spring 26.

When displacing the control parallelogram 39, 36, 35, the lever 39 has freed the control pin 7%. The contacts 76, 77 of switch '75 resiliently close the circuit for the tubular lamp 62 in the lamp housing 61. When rewinding the recording tape 20 from the reel body 6 to the reel body 7 at an end maximum speed of for instance 4 yards per second, the running ahead track 68 is scanned. The intermediate track 67 serves, as already mentioned as rhythm track. The scanning of the control track 63 is effected by the photodiode 64 which through control contacts 73., 74 of the reversing switch 70 will be moved into effective position during the advance. When the last winding of the recording tape 20 winds off from the reel body 6, the recording tape 20 frees the pin 27 of control arm 21. By means of the thrust of spring 25, the pin 27 is lifted out of the cutout in the reel core 19 and is radially tilted in slot 29. Following the approximately further half revolution of the reel body 6, the car 23 engages the abutment roller 37 and while the kinetic energy of the reel body 6 is reduced, picks up and moves the abutment 37 or lever 33, 39. As a result thereof the pullrod 38 with its ear 47 engaging roller 45 tilts arm E5 in clockwise direction. The friction wheel 12 is disconnected from the friction ring ll of the reel body 7, the friction brake 9 stopping the reel body 7.

When tilting the lever 33, 39 in clockwise direction, first also lever 33, 39 guides lever 41 by means of roller 40 by lowering the inclined surface 44 against the thrust of spring 43. in this way, the movement of lever 33, 39 of reel body 6 is braked, said wheel body 6 at this time'being coupled to control arm 21 by means of the stop abutment 37 and the ear 23 on control arm 21. Furthermore, the angled off portion 79 of arm will be tilted beyond the cutout 80 of pawl 81 until the friction wheel 12 is coupled to the friction ring 10 of the reel body 6. Since with the lever 33, 39 passing through the neutral intermediate position also roller 40 will move to the again increasing portion of the curve path 44;, on lever 41, the spring 43 will act upon friction wheel 12 in a coupling direction which means that the spring 43 will assure along the engaging pressure necessary for the friction clutch or in cooperation with an additional working spring.

When tilting lever 33, 39 the arm of said lever which is pivotally connected to the pullrod 36 moves against the controlpin 73 of the reversing switch 70 and opens the contacts 71, $0 for the photo-diode 64 or closes the contacts 72, 74 for the photodiode 66 for purposes of scanning the return track 7 69. As will be seen from the drawing,the reversing of the tape spooling device is effected within a minimum of time and considerably less prior to the completion of half a revolution of the reel body 6.

The reel body 6 is now by means of friction wheel 12 which rotates in the direction of the arrow 0, turned counterclockwise and thus the tape is rewound from the reel body 7 onto the reel body 6. The friction brake 9 will assure a uniform or at least sufficient pull upon the tape 20 so that the latter without variations will pass between lamp housing 61 and scanning head 63 and will avoid any loop formation. The reel body 7 is turned in clockwise direction by the tape withdrawal.

When tape 20 has been wound off to the last winding, the turning off is effected on the reel body 7 in a manner analogous to that of the reel body 6 and, more specifically, by means of the control arm 22 or its ear 24 which is under the influence of a spring pull when the recording tape 20 during its turning ofi movement releases pin 28. The car 24 engages the stopping abutment 38, shifts lever 35in counterclockwise direction, and moves the bars 36 toward the right. in this way, the ear 36 pushes roller 45 ahead until the arm 15 with its bent off portion 79 engages the notch 80 of pawl 81, When shiftingover, first the roller it on arm 39 of lever 33, while coming from the right-hand side, moves against the inclined surface 454 of lever 41 thereby tensioning spring d3. Shortly after having overcome the highest degree of tension, which means at the start of the counter drop of curve 44, roller 40 stops inasmuch as the curve 44 is stopped by the angled off portion 79 on the resting notch 80 of pawl M in the manner described. in this position of lever 33, 39 also the control pin 79 of switch 75 is depressed which means that the contact between the tongues 75 and 77 for the tubular lamp 62 remains open.

Control lever 93 will until the machine is stopped, have its roller 04 rest in the resting trough 90. The arrangement for the reading device for inserting fixed machine control programs remains at rest as soon as it has established the prescribed course. The recording tape provided with a control program is ready by the device of PEG. 1, and, more specifically, either during the advance or during the return there is read one track only or all informations are read during the advance or return movement. In the last mentioned instance, the respective opposite movement forms a pure rewinding operation.

FIG. 2 shows a device in which during the advance as well as during the return movement of a tape 101, impulse tracks 105, 106 or a rhythm track N7 of tape W1 is read by photodiodes M92, 103, 10%. The possible directions of movement of tape 101 are symbolized by the letter V indicating advance and the letter R indicating return in connection with the adjacent arrow tip. The rhythm track 107 comprises at the same time the 0 information. During the advance, an L information mark 109 pertains to a mark 108 of said rhythm track 107, said mark 109 pertains to a mark 108 of said rhythm track 107, said mark 109 being offset by 2%pitches. The reading is effected by the photodiodes 102, 103. During the return movement, the photodiodes 103, 104 read the tracks 106, 107. For instance, the L information ill pertains to a rhythm mark 110. 1112 is a housing for the photodiodes 102, 103, 104. While the pitch is for instance 2 mm, and the track distance is l/2mm.,'and the offset of marks pertaining thereto in the direction of movement of the tape is each 5 mm, the distance between the diodes 102, 103, 104 from each other in the direction of the tape movement is somewhat less, for instance only 4.6 mm. This arrangementbrings about that with the respective L impulse reading diode 102 104, the impulse mark is already read before the O-information of the rhythm track 107 is gathered. This method of the succeeding and not simultaneously reading of the two tracks permits a certain displacement as it may occur for instance by the length of the tape, while damage and errors are eliminated.

According to FIG. 3, the tape 101 moves between a light source 113 and the above mentioned photodiodes 102, 103, 104 in the housing or holding means 112. i

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the light source formed for instance by a tubular lamp lltlat an inclined in conformity with the displacement of the marks pertaining to each other, for instance lld, 115 of a rhythm track 116 and of an impulse track 117. The two-track recording tape 119 has with a track distance of l /zmm. and a diameterof 1.4 mm. for each mark perforation only a total width of 4 mm. These reels are therefore narrow. As tape material there may be employed preferably a thin metal band of blue steel or a nickel, copper or bronze alloy. In contrast to the embodiment of FlGS. 2 and 3, in this instance the information is read by photodiodes 120, 121 only during the advance indicated by an arrow (L=reading movement; Rqeturn movement). During the return movement, the information is not read.

it is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular arrangement shown in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a tape reading device having a control program held in a digitally operable calculating machine, especially in an arrangement in which for reduction of required width of the tape there are rhythm and impulse tape markings and reading head means offset in staggered relation with respect to each other in tape running direction, the improvement therewith which comprises means establishing offset spacing of the reading head means so that spacing of he impulse markings to the reading head means respectively of the reading head means of the rhythm markings is less than that of particular impulse and rhythm markings belongin together on the tape at a particular time.

The improvement of claim 1, wherein the impulse markings relative to corresponding rhythm markings at least have one-half and preferably have 2 /2sectional lead displacement in tape running direction.

The improvement of claim l, wherein the rhythm markings along transmit the information and upon meeting with the impulse markings however transmit L information to the reading h ad means.

The improvement of claim 1, wherein the markings are in the form of perforations and the reading head means are photodiodes which are illuminated by way of a commonly shared strip lamp means that is positioned in an inclined relation corresponding to offset displacement of the tape perforations belonging together.

5. The improvement of claim l in which the tape is a metal band, especially of high grade steel, nickel-copper, and bronze alloy, respectively.

5. in a changing speed tape reading device having first and second reels about which a tape is entrained and which are reversely driven to move the tape variably in advancing and reversed directions, stroke-intercepting driven friction wheel means, support means supporting said friction wheel means and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said first reel and a second position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said second reel and a third position wherein said friction wheel means is disengaged from both reels, control means for controlling movement of said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means into said first position for advancing movement of said tape, second means responsive to a predetermined advancing travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said second position for return movement of said tape, means responsive to a predetermined return travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said third position to halt said tape, stop means for halting said support means in its said third position, said reels being mounted on spaced parallel stationary axes, said friction wheel means being moveable therebetween, a motor driving said friction wheel means and having a shaft with a gear thereon, a shaft for thefriction wheel means parallel to the motor shaft and having a gear thereon meshing with the gear on the motor shaft, said support means comprising an arm rotatable on the motor shaft and rotatably supporting the friction wheel means shaft selectively for stroke-intercepting movement, said control means responsive to tape drive comprising a reciprocable bar having means to abut said arm and move it in opposite direction about said motor shaft, tiltable levers connected to opposite ends of the bar for movement of the bar and levers in unison and adjacent respective ones of said reels, said actuating means including abutment elements on said reels moveable thereon into and out of position to engage the adjacent levers and actuate the said levers and bar, each abutment element being spring biased toward lever engaging position and having means extending into the path of the tape so that the tape holds the abutment element in ineffective position until a predetermined amount of tape is removed from the respective reel, an over center spring operated device being associated with said bar and levers normally urge the bar and levers and the said arm in the shifting direction thereof, said stop means comprising abutment means adjacent said arm and effective'for halting said arm in an intermediate position of disengagement from both reels when it is actuated at the end of return movement of the tape while permitting said arm to complete a full shifting movement at the end of the advancing movement of said tape.

'7. in a changing speed tape reading device having first and second reels about which a tape is entrained and which are reversely driven to move the tape variably in advancing and reverse directions, stroke-intercepting driven friction wheel means, support means supporting said friction wheel means and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said first reel and a second position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said second reel and a third position wherein said friction wheel means is disengaged from both reels, control means for controlling the movement of said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means into said first position for advancing movement of said tape, second means responsive to a predetermined advancing travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said second position for return movement of said tape, means responsive to a predetermined return travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said third position to halt said tape, stop means for halting said support means in its said third position, said reels being mounted on spaced parallel stationary axes, said friction wheel means being moveable therebetween, a motor driving said friction wheel means and having a shaft with a gear thereon, a shaft for the friction wheel means parallel to the motor shaft and having a gear thereon meshing with the gear on the motor shaft, said support means comprising an arm rotatable on the motor shaft and rotatably supporting the friction wheel means shaft selectively for stroke-intercepting movement, said control means responsive to tape drive comprising a reciprocable bar having means to abut said arm and move it in opposite direction about said motor shaft, tiltable levers connected to opposite ends of the bar for movement of the bar and levers in unison and adjacent respective ones of said reels, said actuating means including abutment elements on said reels moveable thereon into and out of position to engage the adjacent levers and actuate the said levers and bar, each abutment element being spring biased toward lever engaging position and having means extending into the path of the tape so that the tape holds the abutment element in ineffective position until a predetermined amount of tape is removed from the respective reel, each of said abutment elements being in the form of a control lever pivoted on the respective reel and having one end turned out to form an abutment for the respective tiltable lever.

8. A tape reading device according to claim 7 in which each said control lever also has a pin on the other end extending axially into the tape space of the reel for engagement of the tape, said reel having an arcuate slot through which said pin extends and along which the pin moves when the control lever tilts on the respective reel.

9. In a changing speed tape reading device having first and second reels about which a tape is entrained and which are reversely driven to move the tape variably in advancing and reverse directions, stroke-intercepting driven friction wheel means, support means supporting said friction wheel means and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said first reel and a second position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said second reel and a third position wherein said friction wheel means is disengaged from both reels, control means for controlling the movement of said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means into said first position for advancing movement of said tape, second means'responsive to a predetermined advancing travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said second position for return movement of said tape, means responsive to a predetermined return travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said third position to halt said tape, stop means for halting said support means in its said third position, reading head arrangement adjoining the tape having rhythm markings and impulse markings and the rhythm markings and the markings of the impulse track being offset from each other in the direction of travel of the tape, the reading head arrangement adjoining the markings of the impulse track which lead the corresponding-rhythm markings by from onekhalf step to 2Vzsteps in the direction of tape movement whereby the rhythm marks serve as the information while the impulse marks serve as the L information.

10. In a changing speed tape reading device having first and second reels about which a tape is entrained and which are reversely driven to move the tape variably inadvancing and reverse directions, stroke-intercepting driven friction wheel means, support means supporting said friction wheel means and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said first reel and a second position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said second reel and a third position wherein said friction wheel means is disengaged from both reels, control means for controlling the movement of said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support reading head arrangement adjoining the tape having rhythm markings and impulse markings and the rhythm markings and the markings of the impulse track are offset from each other in the direction of travel of the tape, and reading head units for the tracks of the tape for the rhythm and impulse marks being ofiset somewhat less in displacement than the respective marks and in the same direction. 

1. In a tape reading device having a control program held in a digitally operable calculating machine, especially in an arrangement in which for reduction of required width of the tape there are rhythm and impulse tape markings and reading head means offset in staggered relation with respect to each other in tape running direction, the improvement therewith which comprises means establishing offset spacing of the reading head means so that spacing of the impulse markings to the reading head means respectively of the reading head means of the rhythm markings is less than that of particular impulse and rhythm markings belonging together on the tape at a particular time.
 2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the impulse markings relative to corresponding rhythm markings at least have one-half and preferably have 2 1/2 sectional lead displacement in tape running direction.
 3. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the rhythm markings along transmit the O information and upon meeting with the impulse markings however transmit L information to the reading head means.
 4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the markings are in the form of perforations and the reading head means are photodiodes which are illuminated by way of a commonly shared stRip lamp means that is positioned in an inclined relation corresponding to offset displacement of the tape perforations belonging together.
 5. The improvement of claim 1 in which the tape is a metal band, especially of high grade steel, nickel-copper, and bronze alloy, respectively.
 6. In a changing speed tape reading device having first and second reels about which a tape is entrained and which are reversely driven to move the tape variably in advancing and reversed directions, stroke-intercepting driven friction wheel means, support means supporting said friction wheel means and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said first reel and a second position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said second reel and a third position wherein said friction wheel means is disengaged from both reels, control means for controlling movement of said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means into said first position for advancing movement of said tape, second means responsive to a predetermined advancing travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said second position for return movement of said tape, means responsive to a predetermined return travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said third position to halt said tape, stop means for halting said support means in its said third position, said reels being mounted on spaced parallel stationary axes, said friction wheel means being moveable therebetween, a motor driving said friction wheel means and having a shaft with a gear thereon, a shaft for the friction wheel means parallel to the motor shaft and having a gear thereon meshing with the gear on the motor shaft, said support means comprising an arm rotatable on the motor shaft and rotatably supporting the friction wheel means shaft selectively for stroke-intercepting movement, said control means responsive to tape drive comprising a reciprocable bar having means to abut said arm and move it in opposite direction about said motor shaft, tiltable levers connected to opposite ends of the bar for movement of the bar and levers in unison and adjacent respective ones of said reels, said actuating means including abutment elements on said reels moveable thereon into and out of position to engage the adjacent levers and actuate the said levers and bar, each abutment element being spring biased toward lever engaging position and having means extending into the path of the tape so that the tape holds the abutment element in ineffective position until a predetermined amount of tape is removed from the respective reel, an over center spring operated device being associated with said bar and levers normally to urge the bar and levers and the said arm in the shifting direction thereof, said stop means comprising abutment means adjacent said arm and effective for halting said arm in an intermediate position of disengagement from both reels when it is actuated at the end of return movement of the tape while permitting said arm to complete a full shifting movement at the end of the advancing movement of said tape.
 7. In a changing speed tape reading device having first and second reels about which a tape is entrained and which are reversely driven to move the tape variably in advancing and reverse directions, stroke-intercepting driven friction wheel means, support means supporting said friction wheel means and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said first reel and a second position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said second reel and a third position wherein said friction wheel means is disengaged from both reels, control means for controlling the movement of said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means into said first position for advancing movement of said tape, Second means responsive to a predetermined advancing travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said second position for return movement of said tape, means responsive to a predetermined return travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said third position to halt said tape, stop means for halting said support means in its said third position, said reels being mounted on spaced parallel stationary axes, said friction wheel means being moveable therebetween, a motor driving said friction wheel means and having a shaft with a gear thereon, a shaft for the friction wheel means parallel to the motor shaft and having a gear thereon meshing with the gear on the motor shaft, said support means comprising an arm rotatable on the motor shaft and rotatably supporting the friction wheel means shaft selectively for stroke-intercepting movement, said control means responsive to tape drive comprising a reciprocable bar having means to abut said arm and move it in opposite direction about said motor shaft, tiltable levers connected to opposite ends of the bar for movement of the bar and levers in unison and adjacent respective ones of said reels, said actuating means including abutment elements on said reels moveable thereon into and out of position to engage the adjacent levers and actuate the said levers and bar, each abutment element being spring biased toward lever engaging position and having means extending into the path of the tape so that the tape holds the abutment element in ineffective position until a predetermined amount of tape is removed from the respective reel, each of said abutment elements being in the form of a control lever pivoted on the respective reel and having one end turned out to form an abutment for the respective tiltable lever.
 8. A tape reading device according to claim 7 in which each said control lever also has a pin on the other end extending axially into the tape space of the reel for engagement of the tape, said reel having an arcuate slot through which said pin extends and along which the pin moves when the control lever tilts on the respective reel.
 9. In a changing speed tape reading device having first and second reels about which a tape is entrained and which are reversely driven to move the tape variably in advancing and reverse directions, stroke-intercepting driven friction wheel means, support means supporting said friction wheel means and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said first reel and a second position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said second reel and a third position wherein said friction wheel means is disengaged from both reels, control means for controlling the movement of said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means into said first position for advancing movement of said tape, second means responsive to a predetermined advancing travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said second position for return movement of said tape, means responsive to a predetermined return travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said third position to halt said tape, stop means for halting said support means in its said third position, reading head arrangement adjoining the tape having rhythm markings and impulse markings and the rhythm markings and the markings of the impulse track being offset from each other in the direction of travel of the tape, the reading head arrangement adjoining the markings of the impulse track which lead the corresponding rhythm markings by from one-half step to 2 1/2 steps in the direction of tape movement whereby the rhythm marks serve as the O information while the impulse marks serve as the L information.
 10. In a changing speed tape reading Device having first and second reels about which a tape is entrained and which are reversely driven to move the tape variably in advancing and reverse directions, stroke-intercepting driven friction wheel means, support means supporting said friction wheel means and moveable therewith between a first position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said first reel and a second position wherein said friction wheel means drivingly engages said second reel and a third position wherein said friction wheel means is disengaged from both reels, control means for controlling the movement of said support means, first means for actuating said control means to move said support means into said first position for advancing movement of said tape, second means responsive to a predetermined advancing travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said second position for return movement of said tape, means responsive to a predetermined return travel of said tape to actuate said control means to move said support means into said third position to halt said tape, stop means for halting said support means in its said third position, reading head arrangement adjoining the tape having rhythm markings and impulse markings and the rhythm markings and the markings of the impulse track are offset from each other in the direction of travel of the tape, and reading head units for the tracks of the tape for the rhythm and impulse marks being offset somewhat less in displacement than the respective marks and in the same direction. 